Rumours (signings, sackings & other NRL stuff)

[Nutz]

Well done Tigers. Let's hope he turns into a quality NRL player.

He's a gun and has that look about him that makes you stand up and notice.
We've been trying to lock him up for a while now, so good on ya fellas.
It's a pity he's not ready now as we could do with a good centre.

 

[Ron's_Mate]

Teen sensation commits to league after beating New Zealand in rugby
By Jonathan Drennan
Updated October 8, 2024 — 8.46amfirst published at 5.49am

One day after starring on the wing for the Australian Under-18s in their first win over New Zealand Schools since 2019, Heamasi Makasini has signed a three-year deal to remain at the Wests Tigers in a blow for Rugby Australia’s future plans.

Makasini scored a try in Hamilton and celebrated with his teammates after the hard-fought 38-31 victory, before pledging his future to rugby league.

In a statement, Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall spoke highly of Makasini, who has starred for Newington College in rugby while also playing for Wests Magpies Harold Matthews Cup team in rugby league. There he finished as the side’s leading try-scorer with 10 tries from as many games.

“He is one of the best young talents that we have who has progressed his way through our development programs,” Marshall said.

“He is very humble, respectful and is a good young man. Being able to secure Heamasi’s signature for the next three seasons is a massive boost for our club and the direction we are heading.”

RA will now face a nervous wait on the future decisions of Penrith junior Heinz Lemoto, who starred at No.8 for Australia in New Zealand, and his teammate, fullback Rex Bassingthwaighte, who has played for the Roosters.

The last Australian Under-18 team to beat New Zealand in 2019 included Manly’s Tolu Koula and Joseph Suaalii. After spending the last three years with the Roosters in NRL, Suaalii is now back in rugby and expected to join the Wallabies’ spring tour in November.

Speaking to this masthead just before the news of Makasini’s contract with the Tigers broke, Australian Under-18s coach Shannon Fraser spoke of the challenge RA faces in keeping its talented squads together into senior rugby.

“It’s going to be player choice, and we can’t kid ourselves that these kids don’t have other options,” Fraser said.
“I think we’ve got an ability to provide meaningful competitions, we provide exposure to regular international rugby, we compete around the world. You can play for your country on an international stage and [with] some of the greatest sporting events in the world, that’s not insignificant.
“We’ve just got to create a healthy experience for our young players that challenges them but also rewards them with these life experiences of playing at the top and playing around the world.”

Fraser formerly worked with St George Illawarra as a skills coach and believes that Lemoto, Makasini and Bassingthwaighte represent key talents.

“They’re hugely talented players, all slightly different ... and I think that comes with a level of confidence,” Fraser said.

“They’re well prepared in relation to their training and their recovery and getting up to speed on their knowledge [of the game] ... they’re confident, they back themselves. They’re very self-assured of their abilities and you sort of see that in the way that they play.”

Teen sensation commits to league after beating New Zealand in rugby

One day after helping Australia Under-18s to their first win over New Zealand in five years, Heamasi Makasini has pledged his future to the NRL.

www.smh.com.au

 

[TheDefinitionOfMadness]

That PNG team is a cluster f**k waiting to happen.

Yeah I can't see how that's going to be a success. Even if their wages are tax free, they'll have to live in an enclave with 24 hour guards. Family men won't want that as their partners will be stuck in a resort type setting which would wear thin after about 4 weeks. The kids schooling would suffer.

Single blokes wouldn't be able to go chasing tail or party in general like they'd do in Australia. They won't want that restriction.

Adding a team to your comp for the sole reason that it helps Australia's national security objectives is a bad idea. Even if the Australian Govt. pays for it.

If there was no Nth Qld Cowboys you could just base them out of Cairns or Townsville and fly them into Port Moresby for games, but there's already a well established presence there, and this idea doesn't appear to be in the NRL's plans anyway.

You can see a team with PNG locals and players who either play 1st grade there, or not at all.

At least it will keep us off the bottom of the ladder.

 

[macnaz]

At least 20 of the lemons should b looking for a different form of employment.Problem is there are not the decent players available to fill the void.Hence it’s diabolical that the NRL
r expanding when its currently loaded with excrement who r predominantly barely NSW cup standard.

I disagree, its not the talent isnt available its just we are so so shit at identifying it. The Dolphins found enough talent in their very 1st year to easily out perform us in the competition, i have no doubts the next new sides will also do the same .

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

I disagree, its not the talent isnt available its just we are so so shit at identifying it. The Dolphins found enough talent in their very 1st year to easily out perform us in the competition, i have no doubts the next new sides will also do the same .

Yes, they went from not even having an NRL club to fielding a competitive side in the space of 2 years.

The reason is because they got the right officials involved to put it together.

Even where they couldn’t get every player they wanted.

We have a change of officials, but we are still underperforming and making strange decisions-which is a bit of a worry.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

So the week before spoon bowl Benji was still being brave and standing by the 20 debutant policy.

No other club is close or having to come close and if he’s right, it really speaks to how bad the last 3 or 4 years of r&r have been as well low percentage signings.

As a collective of footballing minds.

And unconvinced that Benji is the right hands-on coach, we just have to hope that he shows more promise in selecting the good from the bad.

Which probably won’t become apparent for some time.

And there’s the sales to attend to. If we can’t sell them, then I guess the option is to bring Nado, Bateman and Sully back into the land of the footballer.

This is a problem when you are appointing coaches on relationships instead of proven talent.

You’d have confidence that Ivan could work hard on them and help them through the dark times. And Bellamy could bring almost any player from the dead.

And if Benji is wrong with his selections, more wasted years we didn’t have to endure.

Benji needs a coach, I think I’m being realistic. Spoon bowl was an utter failure of coaching. We had everything to play for. It was a flogging of catastrophic proportions.

 

[Fordy20]

What's Warren Ryan doing these days?

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

What's Warren Ryan doing these days?

Probably close to a nursing home. The bloke is 82 years old.

 

[Tiger Ted]

I disagree, its not the talent isnt available its just we are so so shit at identifying it. The Dolphins found enough talent in their very 1st year to easily out perform us in the competition, i have no doubts the next new sides will also do the same .

A lot of the credit re the dolphins admirable performance has to go to WB.He recruits players with integrity who leave nothing in the tank & more importantly he holds them to account.Our culture is a couldn’t give a shit spineless culture where players r mercenaries & r not held accountable for their lame efforts.We recruit players like Blair & Papalii who were excellent players who gave a shit at their previous clubs but when they arrive at Concord are in holiday mode & never held to account.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Probably close to a nursing home. The bloke is 82 years old.

Ivan will be a better coach when he is 82.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

Ivan will be a better coach when he is 82.

The last time Warren Ryan coached in the NRL was 2000. Not sure an 82 year old, whose had 25 years away from coaching NRL footy is the way to go.

 

[Nutz]

What's Warren Ryan doing these days?

I had a beer with Warren years ago at Maroubra Hotel, and his nose was redder than Buzz's.

 

[Tigerm]

Do we need a reserve grade FB?

 

[Tiger05]

Do we need a reserve grade FB?

I mean we could use him but there is no way we could match his Parra salary.

 

[Tiger Ted]

Do we need a reserve grade FB?

We need rugged props who constantly bend the line

 

[WA Tiger]

Do we need a reserve grade FB?

Your right Bulla does need replacing haha…Id grab gutho despite the hate. He’s more than just a fullback

 

[BrotherJim05]

We need rugged props who constantly bend the line

Apparently Leo Thompson is testing the market. Would be a huge pickup

 

[Tigerm]

Apparently Leo Thompson is testing the market. Would be a huge pickup

I think a few things need to happen before we can sign anymore atm?

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

The last time Warren Ryan coached in the NRL was 2000. Not sure an 82 year old, whose had 25 years away from coaching NRL footy is the way to go.

You obviously haven’t experienced Sheens or Marshall sister!

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Your right Bulla does need replacing haha…Id grab gutho despite the hate. He’s more than just a fullback

He’s getting a lot of support on another forum.

He competes.

But I think the pack remains wanting.


That’s my priority atm anyway.

I’m not adverse to jac but he might be excess to requirements at this stage.